Basketball coach Lowery fired at Southern Illinois

Citing an array of problem areas with the men’s basketball program, Southern Illinois athletic director Mario Moccia announced on Friday that coach Chris Lowery was fired.

Lowery, the Salukis' point guard from 1990-93, had coached in Carbondale the last eight seasons, attaining instant success but experiencing a decline that was just as rapid.

Moccia mentioned a decline in academics, a falloff in season ticket sales, poor player retention and “a general malaise around the basketball program” as factors that contributed to Lowery’s dismissal.

“Maybe the house doesn’t look so great,” Moccia said, noting a national search would begin immediately. “But I think the program has such a strong foundation. I think we can attract a quality coach.”

The highlight for Lowery came in 2007 when the team advanced to the Sweet 16 and ended the season ranked No. 11, the highest in program history. His first four seasons included three NCAA tournament berths and one NIT appearance.

But the program fell into disarray quickly, going just 49-75 overall the last four seasons. This season was the Salukis' worst, finishing with an 8-23 record for the most defeats in school history.

Moccia spoke to Lowery Thursday night after the team lost 66-51 to Indiana State in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament and informed him of the decision.

Southern Illinois is negotiating with Lowery’s representatives to settle on a buyout. Lowery had two years remaining on a seven-year contract that reportedly paid more than $5 million.

Moccia indicated the Salukis will not be able to match that amount with the next coach due to financial reasons.

“We will be getting back to contracts of a fiscal nature that we can bite off,” he said.

He said he has assembled a search committee and plans to have hired a coach by the time the Final Four arrives. While the committee will be “open minded,” Moccia said, they may naturally gravitate toward a coach from the Midwest.

CBS reported that the Salukis could target Illinois coach Bruce Weber, who had coached at Southern Illinois from 1998-2003. Moccia said he did not want to speculate on potential candidates but that he hoped Weber “wins big and finishes out his contract at Illinois.